Calgary Flames Vs. Montreal Maroons

The Calgary Flames are maybe the most talented unit in the league. Notice that I said unit and not ‘’team’’. Their many impressive parts did not add up to nearly enough wins in Cowtown this season and it has people wondering if this will be another early exit. They have centers coming out of their asses with Stamkos, Kopitar, Backstrom, Dubinsky and Reasoner. There are plenty of scoring wingers with St. Louis, Hejduk, Bourque, Malone and Oshie. The defence counts on the best in the league in Lidstrom, solid other vets such as sim re-rate Sheldon Souray, Mark Streit, Mark Giordano, Derek Morris and Jan Hejda. In net, a surprising in-season trade of Henrik Lundqvist saw Pekka Rinne arrive and the pressure is on him to deliver. There is no reason why this team can’t represent the Can Con in the Finals, but they are in a tough position as they start with a very talented Maroons squad in their way.

3 KEY FACTORS:

• Kopitar and Backstrom. Both players had underwhelming seasons and it’s crucial that they put it together this spring.
• Pekka Rinne has the weight of the world on his shoulders and will have to shove it to the doubters who questioned the Lundqvist deal.
• Can the Flames contain the Maroons big 3 of Ovy, Sid and Geno?

There may not be a bigger disappointment in the league this year than the Montreal Maroons. Whenever you ice Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin, greatness is expected. Instead, the Maroons were a mediocre team that never lived up to the hype and settled on being 7th. Regardless, they enter the playoffs as a lethal opponent due to their great atlent. Not only do they have a trio of superstars, they also have strong secondary parts in the forward ranks like Hornqvist, Brown, Tavares and Kunitz. The defence is young, but plenty talented with Yandle, the Johnsons and Liles leading the way. Goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff was acquired during the season and could be the elite goalie the Maroons have been looking for. The Maroons have plenty of playoff experience and a desire to redeem themselves for a poor season, this should mean a great series for 2M4B followers.

3 KEY FACTORS:

• The Flames were an elite defensive team, can the Maroons offence break through and make it a run and gun series?
• I say that, yet the Maroons finished an incredibly disappointing 18th offensively. The big guns all had bad seasons. They must redeem themselves.
• Sidney Crosby. 60 points in 75 games?!??!?!?!?!! It’s this type of stage where Sid the Kid can show the world he is still the best.

Prediction: This series is much closer on paper than it is in the standings. The Maroons will be an extremely tough out for the Flames and that may be a good thing in the big picture. Home ice advantage will be extremely important though. Flames in 7.